Mr. Joe O’Brien, T.D., Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities, announced on Friday 9th April, additional funding of €3.2million for the Community Services Programme 2021 Support Fund. This brings the total amount allocated under the CSP Support Fund in 2020 and 2021 to €7.95m.
Announcing the funding the Minister said:
“I am very pleased to once again provide additional financial supports to those CSP organisations continuing to face unprecedented difficulties as a result of COVID 19. Given the evolving situation, many of these organisations have been unable to operate properly for some time now and this is having a significant impact on their ability to generate income to meet essential overhead costs. It is important that we continue to provide supports for these vulnerable organisations so that they, in turn, can continue to provide services when the restrictions are lifted”
Specific funding is being provided to help those organisations most in need to meet their ongoing operational costs such as insurance, light and heat and audit fees.
In addition, the existing supports already in place towards additional wage and PRSI supports are being extended from 1 April to end June 2021, in line with the extension of other Government wage support schemes.
The Minister went on to say:
“Taken with the recent announcement in relation to a further €10m for the COVID-19 Stability Fund, these additional supports will continue to provide much-needed assistance to those organisations who are delivering valuable services in our communities. As Minister, I would like to express my appreciation for the work carried out by these organisations and I am very pleased to announce these additional supports.”
This extension of the CSP Support Fund will be administered over the coming weeks by Pobal, who manage the Programme on behalf of the Department.